Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style.
Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings
is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a
qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being
technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent
broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big
financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually
adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to
keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band,
label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.

1. The Lie2. Unplugged3. In The Cartoon4. On the Way Up5. Uranium Miner’s Daughter 6. Pet of A Pig7. The Grey Men 8. Envy9. Theme10. The Second Day11. The Prey 12. Radio Promo13. Unplugged –(Live)14. On the Way Up (Live)15. Outro –(Live)16. Brains –( Live)

If you were around twenty years ago and a part or fan of the Thrash Punk scene then you were probably a follower or at least aware of the legendary band Clown Alley and their debut “Circus Chaos”. Mixing Thrash/Punk and Metal, Clown Alley burst onto the scene with a new sound and mix of genres that many believe could never be accomplished. Hailing from San Francisco, Clown Alley was formed in the mid 80’s, by four bay area punks- Lori Black on bass, Justin Clayton-drums, Mark Deutrom-Guitar and David Duran on Vocals. Clown Alley’s sound and Black and Deutrom’s association with the seminal band The Melvins, also propelled them into the big tent of Thrash-Metal Mania and firmly planted them on the thrash map along with DRI and COC. And then they were gone. One pivotal release and the band succumbed to the usual suspects of competing projects and divergent directions.

This collection is the first time the album (previously released on vinyl by Mark Deutrom in 1986) has been distributed on compact disc and features live bonus tracks and a radio interview from 1986. Is it for everyone? Not so much..you have to be a true Clown Alley fan to wade through David Duran’s haiku lyric writing and the sometimes incongruous mix of genres. Still, Clown Alley warrants a place in the sun and this collection is a well-deserved accolade to a band that proved originality in music does exist.